Hackling-machine.



Nu. 662,I|7. Patented Nov; 20, I900.

'J.' V. EVES.

HAGKLING MACHINE.

(Application filad July 19, 1900.)

I7 'Sheets-Sheet I (No Model.)

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- Patented Nov. 20, I900. J. V.-E\ IES.

H'ACKLING MACHINE.

(Application filed. July 19, 1900.)

I7 SheetsSheef 2* I (No Model.)

a G F WITNESSES. wyw M No. 662,||7. Patented Nov. 20, 1900'. J. v. EVES.

HAGKLING MACHINE.

(Application filed J'u .1y 19, 1900.)

I7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR.

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N0. 662,ll7. Patented Nov. 20, I900.

J. v. EVES;

HACKLING MACHINE.

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INVENTOR.

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N0. 662,!l7. Patented Nov. 20, I900.

J. V. EVES.

HACKLING MACHINE. (Afplication filed \Tuly' 19, 1900.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 662,|l7. Patented Nov. 20, I900.

' J. V. EVES.

I-YIA'CKLING' MACHINE.

(Application filed July 19, 1900. (No Model.) 17 SheetsSheat s.

WITNESSES, INVENTOR.

N0. 662,1l7. Patented Nov, 20, I900;

J. V. EVES.

HACKLING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 19, 1900.

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INVENTOR. V

No. 662,117. r Patentd Nov. 20, l900.

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HACKLIN G MACHINE.

(Application filed July 19, 1900.) 140 Model.) 17 Shebts$het s.

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HACKLING MACHINE. (Application filed July 19, 1900.)

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INVENTOR.

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Patented Nov. 20, I900.

No. 662,|l7.

.1. v. EVES. HACKLING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 19, 1900.

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(No Model.)

INVENTOR NLIMIL I 1 WBTNESSES N0. 662,!!7. Patented Nov. 20, I900. J. V. EVES.

HACKLING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 19, 1900.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES.

m: Ncmms PETERS co. Pas-rum N0. 662,!l7. Patfanted Nov. 20, I900.

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HACKLING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 19, 1900.)

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No. 662,||7. Patented Nov. 20,1900.

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I HACKLlNG MACHINE.

(Application filed m 19, 1900.) CNo Model.) l7 SheeisSheet I3.

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HACKLING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 19, 1900.] (NoModeL) I7 Sheets-Sheet l6.

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N0. 662,ll7. Patented Nov. 20, I900. J. v. ves. HACKLING MACHINE.

(Application filed. July 19, 1900.) v (No MpdelJ l7 Sheets-Sheet l7 fiiv%r;assss. I lllygjlwfi v UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSHUA VALENTINE EVES, OF BELFAST, IRELAND.

HACKLlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,1 17, dated November 20, 1900.

Application filed July 19, 1900 Serial No. 24,148. (No model.)

1'0 ctZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSHUA VALENTINE EVES, asubject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of Belfast, in the county of Antrim, Ireland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hackling-Machines for Flax or Similar Fibers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for hackling long-staple fibers,such as flax, and is designed to economize labor in the manual attendance required to pass the fiber through the machines and also to render more efficient the mechanical devices already applied to that purpose.

The invention consists, essentially, in constructing the machines with a connectingchannel at one end, by which the flax-holders are automatically conveyed from one head to the next by a swiveling piece, a turn-table or reversing mechanism by which the flax is reversed or changed in the holders when part has been operated upon, a channel at the other end to receive and open the holders when the liax has been operated upon for the removal of such flax and the insertion of a fresh piece, a channel to carry the holder when refilled to the first head, a holder which can be compressed and released as it travels intermittently along the channel, and a pneumatic or hydraulic gripping device extending the length of the channel or placed at the ends thereof, which alternately compresses and releases the holder to allow it to pass along the machine as the fiber is acted upon successively by each set of hackle-pins.

The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which sufficient of a hackling-machine is shown for the purpose.

Figure l is a front elevation of one machine or head. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of one head, upper half. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of one head, lower half. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the adjoining head, upper half.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the adjoining head, lower half. Fig. 6 is a front elevation of intermediate of upright framing H and crossover channels E. Fig. 7 is a plan of the driving mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Fig. Sis a side elevation of mechanism an end elevation, enlarged, of opposite head shown in Fig. 4, also showing mechanism for opening holders to release the finished fiber and replace it with a fresh piece or bunch. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of holder opening and releasing mechanism shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of mechanism shown in Fig. 10, another position. -Fig. 13 is a plan, enlarged, showing ends of longitudinal channel with mechanism for transferring holders to or from the same. Fig. 14: is a transverse section, enlarged, through the blades of holder and lower channel and pneumatic tube. Fig. 15 is a side elevation, enlarged, of part of Fig. 14:. Fig. 16 is a plan of Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a front elevation of one pneumatic or hydraulic press and valve for operating same. Fig. 18 is a front elevation of same at end of adjoining machine. Fig. 19 is a side elevation of press, partly in section. Fig. 20 is a plan of same, Fig. 17. Fig. 21 is a plan of Fig. l8. Fig. 22 isa diagrammatic plan showing four presses outside the four corners of two machines. Fig. 23 is a diagrammatic perspective View showing the course of the fiber through the machine.

The hackle-sheets A and the parts of the machine which carryaud operate them are of usual construction and are consequently not shown in the drawings or described in the specification.

It is necessary that the channels B, which carry the flax-holders O in the two heads of the machines, should work or rise and fall perfectly in unison in order that the holders may be regularly transferred from one to the other. To effect this, I connect the two driving-sha'fts D D, Fig. 7, by a cross-shaft D and bevel-wheels d cl, so that both shafts D D are driven from the same source of motion. The shaft D is driven by wheel and pinion d from the belt-pulley shaft D", the arrangement being such that the driving-belt is driven at a much higher superficial speed than at present when it drives direct onto the main shaft of the machines. The belt runs onto the fast and loose pulleys C1 and the flywheel effect of the fast-running pulleys and belt steadies the whole motion of the machine when the reciprocating parts are in action.

' Between the first and second heads or machines I place a transverse or crossover channel E, by which the flax-holders are carried from one to the next. The greater part of the crossover channel E is made stationary, with the swiveling ends E rising and falling with the channels B to transfer the holders C from one to the other.

The transverse channel E is divided at one end of the machine attor near the center to allow of the changing or removal and replacement of the flaxholders at one end for the purpose of reversing the flax in the holder, and at the other end of the machine it is partially cut away for the purpose of removing the hackled piece or bunch of flax and replacing, it by another. In the simpler form of the machine these operations may both be performed by hand labor; but I also include in my invention mechanism at one end of the machines inserted at the opening in the trans verse channel E to reverse the flax and at the other end of the machines mechanism to re- ,lease or open the holder to permit of the removal of the finished piece or bunch of flax and the replacement of it by a fresh pieceor bunch of unhackled flax.

The transverse channels E are set or fixed at the same level or height the longitudinal channels B when the latter are at the bottom of their traverse or lowest position.

Between the ends of the channels B and the ransverse channels E are fitted swiveling end pieces E, which rise and fall with the channel B, which when the channels B are at the top of their traverse are in line therewith and when the channels B are at the bottom of their traverse are level with and in line with the transverse channel E. The swiveling end pieces E are mounted upon radial arms 8, mounted upon swiveling pins or pivots e, and are caused to rotate a quarterrevolution as the head ascends and descends by the projection e engaging a volute or twisted or screwed bar e The holders 0 are pushed into (or out of) the swiveling ends E in the ordinary way by the catch-bar B at present employed with the main channels B. A similar catch-bar arrange ment E carries the holders out of one radial or swiveling end E and thence across the crossover channel E into the opposite swiveling end, where it is taken hold of by the catch-bar of the main channel and carried forward in the usual way.

Each machine-head is made with two channels-an upper one, B, from which the holders 0 are suspended, and a lower one, B, where pressure is intermittently applied to the holdersand the holders 0 are made with arms cto extend from the upper to the lower channels.

other.

The two channels B and B are attached to and suspended by bows b, similar in shape to punching-bears, sufiiciently strong to bear the weight of the channels and holders and .the lateral pressure applied thereto. The

each end of the spindle c, by which the holder it is suspended from the main upper channel B and the transverse or crossover channels E. Two lateral projections e are attached to the arms 0 to open and close them as the holders pass through the changing and reversing mechanism at one end and through the releasing and opening mechanism at the The flax in the holder is held stifliciently tight by the springs till the holder passes into the channels, where the ultimate pressure is applied to resist the tearing-out action of the hackling-sheets A.

Sufiicient pressure must be applied to the holders 0 at the time the flax fiber enter between the hackle-pins on the sheets A to prevent the fibers being dragged out, and this when not applied individually to each holder must be released, when the flax again emerges from between the hackle-pins to permit of the lateral movement of the holders along the channels B B.

In the channel B, behind the blades of the holders 0, is fitted a pneumatic or hydraulic tube F, which runs the whole length of. the machine. This tube B is in communication through a valve G with an air pump or accumulator or other source of air or hydraulic pressure. (Not shownin the drawings.) The valve G is of ordinary type, with an air-inlet g and exhaust g, and is attached to rise and fall with the channels B B. The valve op crates to shut off the air-supply and open the exhaust connected with the tube F as soon as the channels B B reach the top of the lift, and in the reverse direction to open the air-inlet and close the exhaust, and thus apply pressure to the pneumatic tube F, as soon as the channels commence to descend. The pneumatic tube is placed between the side of the channel B and a movable plate or beltfand is incased in a tube f, of canvas or leather or other protecting material. The tube F may be hydraulic instead of pneumatic.

The valve G is operated by the lever g which at the top of the upward traverse of the channels B B engages with a fixed part of the frame and is moved in onedirection to close the valve and open the exhaust, and

when the channels commence their down ward traverse the under side of the lever engages another fixed projection, throwing it over in the reverse direction to open the valve G.

The pneumatic or hydraulic pressure may be supplied from-a general reservoir or accumulator or from a separate supply actuated by the mechanism of each hackling-machine.

-At the changing end of the machines I apply the changing mechanism (shown in S and 9) placed between the upright framing H, (shown in Figs. 1 to 7,) which also so pports the ends of the transverse channel E. In the framing H is inserted a toothed ring or an n ular carrier K, which is alternately rotated half a revolution in one direction and then in the reverse direction. The carrier K is rotated by a reciprocating rack L, which is ac tuated by a crank-pin Z, working in a transverse slot Z, so formed with a radial portion in the center as to allow for cessation of the movement of revolution at the top and bottom of each stroke. The crank Z which carries the cranlcpin Z, is driven by spur-wheels 1*. At the top and bottom of the annular carrier K, I place a bracket H, with grooves m, into which the T-shaped suspending-head c of the holder slides. The T-head fits sufficiently tightly into the grooves m as to be firmly held and carried around with the carrier K as it is rotated. In the bracket M are two projecting pluugers m, which pass through it to the inside. The inner ends bear against the projecting ends 0 of the holder-arms and the outer ends carry runners m which project beyond the periphery of the annular carrier K. Below the carrier K are placed two fixed cam-surfaces 7r 7r, with which the runners m engage at each half-revolution of the annular carrier K and by which the rods or plungers m are forced through to the other side against the pressure of a spring. The rods m engage with the projecting ends 0 of the holder-arms and force them outward, causing the holder O to open. An empty holder is waiting in the lower position, (see Figs. 5 and 6,) and when a full holder is carried into the bracket M at top of the carrier K thedepending ends of the flax in the top holder enter between the jaws of the bottom holder. As the carrier K rotates the plungers or rods m are released from the fixed cams 7c 7c and the holder-blades are allowed to close upon the finished ends of the flax. The other holder when it reaches the bottom position is opened by the rods or plungers m, engaging the cams 70 7c and releasing the flax it previously held and remaining empty in readiness to receive another piece or bunch. The recharged holder with the changed flax is then moved on along the transverse channel E and another holder takes its place, and the flax therein is reversed in a similar manner.

At the sides of the rotary annular carriers K are placed two air-discharging nozzles N, through which a current of air is caused to impinge upon the edge of the flax immediately before the holder closes to insure that all ends or fibres of the flax will be within the edges of the holder when it closes upon it.

At the transverse channel E, between the feed and discharge ends of the machines, I employ mechanism which turnsthe holder upon its side,lays it on a table,and lifts up the coverplate of the holder to allow the attendant to take out the hackled flax and to spread the rough flax in the emptied holder to undergo the process. (See Figs. 10 and I1.) Below the channel E, I pivot a table 0, carried by two arms or levers 0, pivoted at 0 and actuated by a bell-crank lever P, with a slot-pin one end which engages the pin 0 in an arm 0 projecting behind the levers 0. The lever P is attached to the shaft P and is operated by the short arm 1), with which the vertically-moving piece or slide S engages. The lever P lifts the table 0 into a horizontal position, and the table lifts or raises the holder 0 also to the horizontal. When in the horizontal position the levers R engage with the projections c of the holder-arms cof one side of the holder and raise it to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 8, so that the finished flax may be removed by the operative and replaced by a fresh piece or bunch of unhackled flax. The levers R are attached to the shaft R and are operated by the short lever 1-, which is raised by the verticallysliding piece S.

The lever P and table 0 are counterbalanced and brought back to normal position by the weight W on the arm to or positively by a groove in slide S.

In one arrangement I provide presses U (see Figs. 17, 18, and 19) at each corner of the pair of machines, through the jaws of which the holders 0 pass as they enter and leave the channels. Between the jaws of the pressesU the holder 0 is subjected to a powerful squeeze, and when thus compressed by the plunger U a spring-catch circular wedge (or its equivalent) attached to one plate ofthe holder is moved into engagement with acct-responding catch U fixed to the other plate of the holder.

The holder 0 is provided with a latch on one cover plate or blade, which may be made in the form of a spring. It engages with catches projecting from the opposite cover-plate. The pneumatic or hydraulic presses shown atU force the two plates with the flax between them tightly together. A revolving motion is given to the head 4/, of the ram U by the cams or levers u, fastened to the channels B, coming in contact with the lever n attached to the head of the ram. The latter is grooved so that the latch fits into it. Thus it is carried at one time into the catches 01' at another time out of them, according as the holder-plates have to be freed from pressure or squeezed together. The 

